Voters Guide `97 - 96th House District

* What do you consider the top three issues in your race, and what are your thoughts on those issues?

1. Education. I patroned legislation that would allow teachers to remove disruptive students. We increased per pupil spending 15 percent over the last two years, killed legislation that would have cut $92 million out of the education budget, lowered student-teacher ratios and put computers in more class rooms than ever before.

2. Crime. We passed legislation that allows parents to check the Sexual Offender Registry before choosing a child care provider. I fought for legislation that put over 1,100 new police officers and highway patrolmen on the streets. We instituted three "strikes and you are out." We're introducing legislation that would crack down on domestic violence.

3. Infrastructure. We need to continue fighting for the bridges, tunnels and other road projects on the Peninsula.

JO ANN DAVIS (R)

* Age: 47

* Occupation: Owner, Jo Ann Davis Realty

* Davis, a businesswoman and mother, serves on the board of directors for Mid-Atlantic Teen Challenge and is a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

* What do you consider the top three issues in your race, and what are your thoughts on those issues?

1. Taxes and wasteful government spending. Not long ago, taxes were about 12 percent of the median family income. Today, taxes consume about 40 percent of a two-wage-earner family income. There is something terribly wrong when taxes consume 40 percent of a family's income. I support Jim Gilmore's plan to abolish the personal property tax for cars assessed up to $20,000. Second, small business is unfairly singled out with the BPOL tax. Finally, I would look at cutting wasteful spending and removing regulations that kill jobs.

2. Educating our children. Our schools are at their best when they are guided by parents, teachers and school boards at the local level. We are moving in the right direction with the Standards of Learning reform, which stresses rigorous standards and testing in core subjects. I plan to push for legislation that will reduce class sizes; set high standards in the basic subjects; and restore discipline and safety to our classrooms. Moreover, I will introduce a bill that provides remedial help and summer reading specialists to assist children not passing the new SOL tests.

3. Safeguarding our families from crime. Maintaining law and order is one of the most important functions of government. We should be able to walk or jog in our neighborhoods free from the fear of violence. That is why I oppose any efforts to reverse no-parole. I will introduce legislation to toughen laws against selling drugs to kids and against stalking or abusing women or children.

* Russell was in the Army for nine years, for four of those years he was an administrative legal non-commissioned officer in the staff judge advocate's office; he was president of Alpha Theta Chi and regional vice president of international honors society Phi Theta Kappa.

* What do you consider the top three issues in your race, and what are your thoughts on those issues?

1. Independence. Our representatives are more concerned with not upsetting people who control the purse strings. If we took big money out of politics, we might get back our representation. Don't be fooled into believing that the only people who can represent you are those with a lot of money to spend. If you believe you are not getting 100 percent representation, then vote someone else into office - you can always vote them out.

2. Taxes. Hidden taxes or overtaxation is something we have gone to war over in the past. When I buy a car and pay taxes on it, then 12 months later get a bill and pay tax on it, then 12 months later get a bill...(see where I'm going with this?). And don't tell me we need money for schools: Use the lottery money that is earmarked for education. If that's not enough, start a new game.

3. The Mattaponi River. P lease don't let the bureaucrats destroy the most pristine river left on the East Coast. God created the Mattaponi River and said "This is good," not "This is OK, but could you see if you could make it better." Almost every time man gets involved in fixing nature, we break it. Desalinization plants could provide the water needed for the Newport News and Tidewater area, are upgradeable as demands increase, and won't destroy an ecosystem.